Kaleidoscope (22-07-2012)

Update:
July, 24/2012 - 16:51

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by Phuong Mai

Flash-mob trend catches on

In Viet Nam, young people are expressing their interests in a song or musicians, or even environmental issues, by organising flash mobs, a gathering of a crowd of people outdoors made through email, text messaging or social-networking websites.

Followed by arrivals of international groups like Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Super Junior and Big Bang to Viet Nam in recent years, local fan groups have recorded and uploaded their flash mob appearances on YouTube.

Phan Thanh Nam, a fan of Big Bang from South Korea, took in part in a flash mob at the Crescent Mall in Phu My Hung in District 7 to welcome his favourite band to Viet Nam in April.

He said the activity gave him a chance to meet new friends who had the same interests.

Flash mobs are not only used for entertainment, but are also organised for environmental protection.

At the end of May, 100 employees at Caravelle Hotel gathered in a flash mob to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, which aims to raise people's awareness on environmental protection.

A month ago in Ha Noi, a 28-year-old man organised a flash mob to surprise his girlfriend with a proposal.

Manh Cuong asked his friends to gather people for a flash mob at West Lake and then he pretended to pass by and participate in the activity. At the end of the performance, his message to his girlfriend was: "Will you marry me?" She said yes.

Animation hit on YouTube

A six-minute animated film of the battle at Bach Dang River, created by students at the Faculty of Industrial Arts at Hong Bang University in HCM City, has proven to be such a hit around the country that it has already received 120,000 views on YouTube.

The piece, titled Dai Chien Bach Dang (Battle on Bach Dang River), is about the battle of Vietnamese forces led by Ngo Quyen who defeated the invading forces of the southern Han state of China in 938.